Yachting World
- Digital Edition
Oyster 565 yacht test: This bluewater cruiser marks the rebirth of a legend
- Toby Hodges
- January 9, 2020
Is this Oyster 565 the boat that secures the British yard’s future? Toby Hodges takes an exclusive test sail
Product Overview
Manufacturer:, price as reviewed:.
For the sake of this iconic British brand, the new Oyster 565 can’t just be good, it has to be exceptional. Nothing less will do. When the Oyster 825 Polina Star III lost her keel and sank off the coast of Spain in July 2015, the fortune it subsequently cost Oyster directly contributed to the company going into receivership.
Its backers, Dutch firm HTP Investments, ceased to provide financial support in February 2018 and the company went into administration. When gaming software entrepreneur Richard Hadida bought Oyster six weeks later , many wondered how he could rebuild the credibility of the brand and turn the business around.
So all eyes were on the Oyster 565 when it launched at the Southampton Boat Show in September. This is the first completely new design under Hadida’s watch and it sits at the core of the British firm’s market. This is the yard’s most popular size, replacing the 56 (75 sold) and 575 (45 sold).
There is the option of an extended transom design with tender garage, but all owners so far have favoured this standard shape with davits for carrying a dinghy. This yacht has a substantial bathing platform, alongside which you can tie up the dinghy. Photo: Brian Carlin
Hadida has introduced some key developments to help it succeed. Oyster now moulds its hulls in-house rather than subcontracting this work, and he wanted third party oversight, so a Lloyd’s Register surveyor inspects all yachts in build once a week to approve the design, materials and build quality of the hulls and decks. This brings a level of assurance to new owners and should restore faith in the build quality.
The new owner introduced a diverse group of board members, including designer Rob Humphreys and sailor and former Formula 1 team boss Eddie Jordan as well as other business authorities. He also put the Oyster Rendezvous regattas and successful Oyster World Rally back on track. However, this groundwork counts for nothing if the Oyster 565 flops.
I travelled to Barcelona to spend two days testing Panthalassa , the first 565 to launch. Knowing there is a huge amount riding on this model, I wondered whether it would deliver. The answer is a resounding yes. The Oyster 565 is one of the finest production yachts I have ever sailed.
The design is contemporary and sympathetic to Oyster’s existing line-up, but with more volume, comfort, simplicity, speed and stowage space than its predecessors. The deck and interior layout is right up to date, the engineering behind the scenes is of high quality, and the finish is a step beyond what almost any other production yard can offer.
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Times have changed
I found the Oyster 565 berthed alongside an Oyster 56 in Port Ginesta, which conveniently illustrated how hull shapes and deck layouts have changed in 20 years. The Oyster 565 has around 30cm more freeboard, the beam is carried much further aft, and it has a broader transom. The cockpit in particular is much larger, easier and safer to get into, and there are no sheets for guests to trip over.
The design strikes a balance between respecting the legacy of the 56 and the ten-year-old Oyster 575 , and introducing modern features such as a flush foredeck, clean lines and a greater hull volume. Some traditional cruisers may mourn the loss of a skeg-hung rudder and cutter-rigged headsails, but the ease with which you can handle this Oyster 565 in most conditions should convince the majority that modern design wins here.
A robust bowsprit extends the yacht’s length to 59ft. Although the hull length of the new Oyster 565 is shorter than the 575 it replaces, its waterline length is longer and it boasts 10% more volume. Its full bow sections also create space for a sail locker, a crucial asset for stowing the offwind sail needed to supplement the blade jib.
The Oyster 565 is clearly the product of a yard used to building high-end large yachts, as opposed to one pushing up in size into a level of engineering and quality with which it is less familiar. This is perhaps why Oyster describes it as a ‘pocket superyacht ’.
In this respect, the appointment of Paul Adamson as Oyster’s chief commercial officer was shrewd. Adamson is a seasoned Oyster skipper who took Eddie Jordan’s Oyster 885 Lush around the world (the yacht now belongs to Richard Hadida). He brings practical, hands-on expertise and big-boat knowledge to the yard.
The Oyster 565’s £1.5m price tag is steep, but it is comparable to similar-sized yachts from competitor brands and, unusually, comes with a very high standard spec. This includes hydraulic thrusters, furlers, and windlass, tri-radial sails, powered winches, a generator and a full electronic navigation package. You’ll even find 100m of 12mm chain in the anchor locker.
Secure side decks and great views in and out. Photo: Rick Tomlinson
The Oyster 565 comes ready to go, with all the equipment the company knows will make for comfortable ocean cruising , gleaned from decades of experience and owner feedback.
It is immediately obvious as soon as you go on board that every detail has been thought through. The high guardrails have boarding gates built in. If berthed stern-to, a cassette-style passerelle (an extra option) extends at the push of a button, and its handrail rises automatically. Moving forward between the twin wheels, you enter a generous-sized, deep centre cockpit.
A bluewater yacht needs to have a kindly motion at sea, be easy it is to sail and remain comfortable when heeled. During our trials, the Oyster 565 was to prove genteel, safe and enjoyable to sail.
Powering to weather under blade jib. There is a large sail locker forward, removable dorades and a huge ‘skylight’ hatch above the forward cabin. Photo: Brian Carlin
The 565 is simplicity itself to get on and off a berth. It comes with retractable bow and stern thrusters as standard, which allow you to spin the boat around its keel. The hydraulic thrusters are powerful enough to park sideways against a crosswind and easily correct any misalignment when approaching the dock.
Easier sailhandling
The hydraulic furling makes it equally simple to deploy sails even in a strong breeze or awkward seaway. I am not usually a fan of in-mast furling mainsails, but here the ability for one person to set and furl away the main without leaving the helm outweighs any negatives.
Oyster has also ensured that you can manually furl sails should the power or hydraulics fail. Both the mainsail and jib furlers have sockets that allow you to winch the sail by hand or, easier still, operate them with a cordless drill (a fully charged 18V drill will reportedly manage 15 mainsail furls).
The Oyster 565 is the first all-new model to be launched since the yard’s 2018 buyout. Photo: Brian Carlin
The blade jib enables the Oyster 565 to point higher and tack or gybe faster and more easily than previous Oysters with cutter rigs, and without the risk of yankee or genoa sheets whipping around the cockpit. It also proved the ideal sail for our long beats upwind in 12-20 knot winds. The Oyster 565 is a powerful design with a medium displacement, able to maintain consistent speed with a soft motion through the waves that makes for a quiet and comfortable ship.
The twin rudders provide the helmsman with total control and forgiving handling. When the apparent breeze reached the high 20s and the leeward gunwale was immersed, we were on the verge of needing a reef, yet the helm remained light, with only a slight increase in weather helm. This means light work for an autopilot. You can really load the boat, so would need to keep an eye on true wind speeds and when to reduce sail.
The test yacht’s bright red asymmetric spinnaker helped us get the most from the Oyster 565 offwind. Again it was the consistent speeds that stood out: 9-9.5 knots in flat water with winds in the low teens, rising to double figures when going with the swell. Once the breeze was up to a Force 5 on our second day we were sailing consistently at 10 knots. I was hooked: this is an indulgent way to tick off mile after mile.
The cockpit is split into helming and guest areas. The latter has deep benches, a large, fixed table with insulated cool box, a good sprayhood with large, clear panels and an optional bimini or full cockpit enclosure. Photo: Rick Tomlinson
Most sail controls and sheets are within reach of the twin pedestals yet clear of the guest cockpit. When standing at the helm it is possible to straddle the coaming to release a sheet or reach the powered winch buttons during a tack.
Short-handed control
For owners who want to sail short-handed, however, it might be more practical to have the primaries closer to the helms, allowing them to hand steer the boat through a tack rather than relying on an autopilot. Leading the jib sheet to the aft (spinnaker) winch might make more sense, as it is closer to the helm and easier to reach without leaving the cockpit.
The mainsheet winch is directly abaft and in reach of the helmsman. It feels awkward turning round to trim the main, but I guess it is something you would get used to, or would settle for engaging the autopilot before trimming the main. There is currently no option for a traveller. Adamson believes that, for most owners, clear access to the cockpit is paramount, and a powerful vang was chosen to control the main instead.
Safe and secure on deck
The distance between the two wheels is perfect. Footwells help ensure that you feel in, rather than on top of, the boat while helming – that was not always the case on previous models. And wraparound backrests at the seats and handrails on the pedestals both create a feeling of security around the helm areas.
Moving forward along the wide side decks also feels safe thanks to high guardrails and handrails along the coachroof. Outboard shrouds and inboard jib tracks leave a comparatively clear side deck. The shrouds disappear neatly into composite chainplates below the toerail.
Going below feels less secure when the Oyster 565 is heeled, however. The flat companionway steps are steep, and curved sides would be more practical. The interior has plenty of handholds and solid fiddles, but there is so much headroom in the saloon I could only just reach the overhead handrail on the centreline.
When sailing, you have this hypnotic view from the saloon of the sea foaming past the leeward hull windows. Photo: Toby Hodges
It is easier to move forward along the starboard side of the saloon, though, and elsewhere the layout suits life at an angle. It is remarkably quiet below decks, a hush belied by the mesmerising sight of the sea foaming past the big leeward hull windows.
Behind the scenes
The British yard has stuck to a tried and tested interior layout for the Oyster 565 and has furnished and finished it impeccably. The standard of joiner work is as good as any you’ll find at production yacht level. The galley and aft cabin would be hard to better, and the utility cabin amidships, a workroom-cum-laundry with an optional pilot berth and access to the walk-in engine room, further compliments the proven layout.
Unusually at this size, Oyster offers the option of a master cabin forward with two double cabins aft. But unless you plan to spend long periods berthed stern-to, the standard owner suite aft with the magnificent views it provides will surely win every time.
The ensuite owner’s aft cabin has an abundance of light and views, good headroom and stowage – it’s difficult to believe you’re actually aboard a yacht of less than 60ft. Photo: Rick Tomlinson
Every part of the accommodation is used to its full potential, and stowage is maximised without any part feeling cramped. Practical touches include the cedar-lined, lit and ventilated wardrobes, clever use of indirect lighting, and deeply fiddled work surfaces that are shaped, moulded and laminated in-house.
However, it’s what lies behind the scenes that impressed me most. All services are easy to access for maintenance. The headlining is mounted on Velcro, while floorboards use the Fastmount panel system – although Oyster really needs to find a way to stop these sole panels creaking as it spoils an otherwise quiet interior.
Look below the saloon sole and you’ll find a proper, deep bilge sump in the keel stub. Bilges throughout the boat drain here through limber holes, which ensures any water stays in the lowest part and doesn’t slosh around. This is the most logical place for bilge pumps and by mounting them on removable plates Oyster has ensured they can easily be lifted to clean the strainers.
Sole boards lift to allow access to underfloor systems and the deep bilge. Photo: Toby Hodges
Installed beneath the companionway are two large bronze seawater inlets, one for the domestic side, such as fridge and air con, the other for the engine and generator. These systems are linked so that if one becomes blocked you can shut it down and use the other. It is also comforting to see the surrounding pipes all clearly labelled ‘Lloyds approved’.
The companionway steps lift for stowage and access to the top of the 11kW generator. Here you notice the thickness of the sound insulation. Adamson says Oyster has learned a lot about this through building its larger models. The engine room, for example, is surrounded by plywood with a high-density core and insulated with a composite of foam and sound-absorbing materials. When the engine is on tickover, it is almost impossible to hear it in the cockpit.
See more pictures and videos of the Oyster 565 on the official Oyster Yachts website.
Besides walk-in access to starboard, panels below the galley sink can be removed for access to the port side of the engine room. The engine block sits on flexible mountings, below which is a sump that prevents any oil from running into the main bilge area. There is an electronic pump-out for an oil change, a powered fuel polisher and a water-in-fuel alarm – systems normally only found on larger yachts.
The longer you look, the more you appreciate the careful planning and the intricate detail that has gone into this yacht.
The Oyster 565 is a seriously impressive yacht. It’s a modern design, through and through: good-looking and spacious. It’s certainly expensive, but for good reason, as it includes an extremely high standard spec. And the engineering quality and level of finish really raises the bar. No yacht is perfect, but in terms of design and execution the Oyster 565 is as close as you’ll find on a series-built cruising yacht. This new model issues a very clear statement: Oyster is back.
Yachting Monthly
- Digital edition
Oyster 495: the dream boat that sets the bar
- Sam Fortescue
- January 2, 2023
Oyster have long set the standard for luxurious blue-water cruisers, and the Oyster 495 is the new baby in the range. Even if you’re not in the market for one, it’s nice to dream, says Sam Fortescue
Product Overview
- High build quality
- Very stable
- Modern hull shape
- Flexible sail plan
- Accessible technical spaces
- Lots of deck stowage
- Numerous interior steps
- Limited clothes storage
- Captive main/jib halyard
Manufacturer:
Price as reviewed:.
Following an era which saw Oyster yachts getting progressively bigger and bigger, the iconic British boatbuilder has shifted its gaze back to the sort of boats that made it famous. And the first fruit of this welcome development is the comely Oyster 495.
The best part of £2 million all told, she is eye-wateringly expensive. So why sail her?
Well, this iconic British brand has long set the standard when it comes to offshore and ocean luxury cruising yachts, so it’s worth seeing, if only to measure other boats against.
The cockpit is deep, secure and well-sheltered. Credit: Morten Strauch
Even if you haven’t got that kind of loose change in your pocket, it’s nice to dream, isn’t it?
Freshly designed from the keel up, this is a that boat aims to combine comfort, quality build and reliable blue-water passagemaking with features found on the bigger boats.
Drawn by Humphreys Yacht Design, the Oyster 495 is the first new model since Richard Hadida bought the business in 2018.
‘She’s a go-anywhere adventure machine capable of taking her owners to the four corners of the globe,’ says Hadida, for whom this first boat has been built with a huge array of extras.
Oyster 495: a new icon
Approaching the Tuborg Marina in Copenhagen to join ship for the overnight passage to Kiel, there was absolutely no mistaking this boat, whose glossy black carbon mast gave her away long before I spotted the trademark Oyster eyebrow.
Hull number one, which is on a promotional world tour lasting well into 2023, also has a bold turquoise vinyl hull wrap.
Solo sailing is feasible thanks to almost all controls being push-button. Credit: Morten Strauch
In line with recent thinking on hull shape , the Oyster 495 punches a plumb bow into the seas and carries much of her beam well aft – noticeably more so than previous models.
Such a hull form resists heeling and reduces the need for ballast.
The halyards make off to the mast and can be tensioned by winches, but must be moused to be lowered. Credit: Morten Strauch
‘With the twin rudder configuration that we have adopted as standard on all our Oyster designs since the 885 model, it provides us with more flexibility to carry a higher proportion of form stability by increasing the power of the aft hull sections,’ says naval architect Tom Humphreys.
‘This is still introduced sensitively to ensure motions and control in waves is not compromised.’
Generous accommodation
Together with the slightly higher beam and topsides compared to the 46, it creates a lot of volume below for the master cabin and extra headroom in the fo’c’sle.
As is typical for Oyster, the mast is keel-stepped. It intrudes slightly into the corridor forward, but does a better job of transferring rig forces to the keel and reduces chainplate loading.
Our test boat had the full carbon mast option from Selden with in-mast furling, and in some ways, this is a bit of an oxymoron.
Headsail furling is electric on the Oyster 495, with a double bow roller in the integral bow sprit. Credit: Morten Strauch
The carbon mast adds nearly £100,000 to the pricetag for a big weight saving of some 200kg, but the mandrel and furling gear puts some of that weight back in.
On the other hand, it reduces the sail area by 10 per cent and prohibits the use of performance-enhancing battens.
‘You get more sailing done this way,’ explains sales director Richard Gibson, and that is a key point in a blue-water yacht.
The sail plan is designed with an efficient 54m2 jib, which can be set up for self-tacking, or remain on tracks set well inboard for good tight angles upwind.
Then there’s an attractive moulded-in bowsprit which carries two tack points for asymmetric or reaching sails, while beefy padeyes along the raised bulwarks give you heaps of options for fixing the blocks needed to run sheets and guys.
A large sprayhood, and an optional bimini or cockpit tent offer good protection from the elements. Credit: Morten Strauch
As well as push-button controls for the mast furling and outhaul, this test boat has the optional hydraulic mainsail trim.
Effectively reversing the mainsheet to be trimmed in the boom and not on deck, this clever kit was first developed by Wally superyachts.
The mainsheet is spliced to a strop on the deck behind the helm and a ram hidden in the boom does the trimming, removing trailing ropes in the cockpit.
Just the jib sheets come back to the cockpit, because all the halyards are designed to be handled at the mast.
The mainsheet control is hydraulic and hidden inside the boom. Credit: Richard Langdon
It keeps the cockpit remarkably tidy, but requires you to spend time crouched at the foot of the mast to launch or douse a reaching or running sail.
Similarly, the jib and main halyards terminate with loops over a mast fitting which is tensioned then pegged off.
As they are cut to this length with the sails hoisted, you can’t lower them in a hurry.
You need to unload the hook using a winch, then tie on the provided mousing line. Tidy, yes; practical, no.
Hunting for wind
Now, we had lamentably low wind during our test sail, and the delivery team were intent on reaching Kiel by daybreak, so we spent much of our 24 hours aboard with the motor running and the sails furled.
And here, it must be said that the boat performs very well.
At an optimal 2,300rpm, the efficient Yanmar 110hp shoved us along at 8 knots through oily calm seas, consuming 8.7 litres of diesel per hour.
That’s roughly 1 litre per nautical mile, or nearly 4 days and nights of motoring on a full tank of 800 litres.
Excellent deck stowage is located aft of the single-point mainsheet attachment. Credit: Morten Strauch
And though the engine sits in the traditional spot beneath the companionway, with the chart table to starboard and the galley to port, it is very well muffled.
Crucially for the workhorse on a blue-water cruising boat, access is possible via hatches on all four sides of the engine block, while the compartment itself offers plenty of room for additional equipment.
During two passages of moderate wind, the skipper obligingly let us set the main and jib – a slow but simple question of pressing buttons, with jib sheet winches within easy reach of the helm on the coaming.
She remained light and responsive on the helm and at one point, we clocked up a decent 5.1 knots of boat speed, fetching easily into 8 knots AWS.
Oyster is proud of its cockpit table, which contains a drinks fridge. Credit: Morten Strauch
Conditions didn’t permit much more, but polars indicate that she will perform up to about 32º true wind angle, quickly accelerating to 7 knots upwind in a 10-knot breeze.
Broad reaching with the 197 m² asymmetric, she can manage 11 knots in a blow.
Despite being resin-infused, the boat has a relatively heavy glassfibre construction and weighs in at 21 tonnes without fuel, water, food, gear or crew.
The saloon is large and extremely light thanks to the trademark deck saloon windows
Her sail area to displacement ratio of 16.1 is that of a solid offshore cruiser, while the waterline length to displacement ratio of 203 promises a little more power.
It gives her a very solid feel on the water, like her bigger siblings, but limits performance.
‘You want the boat to be the destination in a way,’ says Tom Humphreys. And like all Oysters, the 495 is just that.
The trademark raised centre cockpit means plenty of aft deck for lounging, fishing or blowing up tenders, while the seating, with its central fold-up table, is deep and well protected.
The optional cockpit tent and a bimini would be a boon for warm water or Baltic sailing .
A proper forward facing chart table is essential for ocean navigation and as a work station
Deck, rigging and underwater lighting may be a little showy for some, but do create real atmosphere. The heart of the boat, though, is its large saloon area.
Deep upholstery on either side provides space to put your feet up and relax, gather with friends, sit down for a meal around the eight-person table or even watch a movie on the pop-up TV.
Luxury styling in the cabins hasn’t made Oyster forget practicalities such as lee cloths and handholds.
The space communicates nicely with a very well-found galley to port and the chart table to starboard, and there are handrails to help you make your way everywhere.
The finish is Oyster to the core and styling has been revitalised with a new superyacht inspired look that is all geometric relief, pale wood and Nordic lamps.
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One step too far
If I had one criticism of this otherwise spotless interior, it would be the number of little level changes that connect the spaces.
We counted 12 steps in total, besides the companionway.
While they maximise the volume, they also present a tripping risk.
The hull form includes a plumb bow to stretch waterline length, and carries its beam well aft, controlled by twin rudders. Credit: Brian Carlin
One of the reasons for these steps is clear: the saloon sole is raised somewhat in order to create space for the tankage beneath, as well as enjoy the views from the deckhouse windows.
And there, at least, the benefit is overwhelming, because you can easily inspect each tank, as well as the batteries and other equipment.
Custom joinery adapts the galley storage to your crockery and glassware.
The galley of the Oyster 495 is well laid out for use at sea
Standard is a four-burner hob and oven from GN Espace, side opening boat fridge plus an optional freezer and microwave.
Another highlight is the huge chart table.
There are those that scoff at the waste of space in a digital age, but anyone undertaking blue-water cruising knows the value of this space.
The saloon deckhouse leaves the foredeck clear for sail handling, lounging, or dinghy stowage. Credit: Morten Strauch
B&G instruments are the standard choice. The main interfaces are touchscreen displays that drive C-Zone digital switching , but key kit still features two-pole manual switches.
‘We wanted to introduce tech into the boat, but we had to make sure that if something breaks down mid-ocean you could fix it,’ explains Gibson.
Down steps aft, the owner’s cabin is clearly inspired by the big Oysters.
The engine compartment is well insulated and has ample space for a genset and other systems. Credit: Morten Strauch
The island bed measures 140cm across and features an elaborate fabric headboard that shows off the new styling to maximum effect.
There’s the option of a huge TV on the forward bulkhead, plus a vanity table and a sofa.
A luxurious ensuite heads features a separate shower, reached – you’ve guessed it – down another step.
The second cabin lies in the fo’c’sle and it runs to another good sized semi-island bed.
The boat remains a medium-heavy displacement cruiser, but the new hull shape adds extra performance. Credit: Richard Langdon
Having shared this space overnight with the photographer, I can attest to the comfort, and the natural light.
There is a third cabin to starboard with a pair of useful bunks, sharing the forward heads and shower. Finish quality is, as you’d expect, excellent.
In the end, Oyster has been ambitious in trying to squeeze in the features of its larger boats onto this design.
But it has been a successful project and, even as we hove in sight of Kiel’s green approaches, it was all too easy to imagine settling in and heeding the call of the high seas.
Verdict on the Oyster 495
New focus from Oyster and some modern hull design courtesy of Humphreys have given the Oyster 495 a modest performance boost and some welcome contemporary features.
However, she remains very true to Oyster’s keystone values of safety, seaworthiness and comfort. And in that sense, at least, she is not a radical boat.
Her layout, too, would be familiar to an Oyster 49 owner from 2001.
The Oyster 495 is built for serious long-distance cruising. Credit: Brian Carlin
There’s plenty of technology here – digital switching, plotters galore, good AV options and hydraulic sail controls. But it is not dressed up to be flashy.
The boat is solid, well-built and beautifully finished. She is easy to handle, capable and well organised.
Our only misgivings were about the less-than-easy halyard handling, and reliance on hydraulics for sail trim.
It’s all very neat, but is that really the priority for blue-water cruising?
As to whether she represents the world’s best 50ft blue-water yacht, time will tell, but with 16 boats sold off plan, some buyers clearly think so.
Would the Oyster 495 suit you and your crew?
Oysters are the stuff of dreams, and the new 495 is no exception.
If money were no object, and it needs not to be for this boat (our tricked-out test boat cost £1.6m ex-VAT or £1.92m inc VAT), then this is a vessel custom made to fulfil blue-water cruising hopes.
She would best suit a family with a steady flow of visiting friends, or a mix of older and younger kids.
The integral bowsprit on the Oyster 495 facilitates the setting of various offwind sails to maintain passage speeds. Credit: Brian Carlin
The disparity between the aft and fo’c’sle cabins rules out a project involving two couples.
She would also work well with a couple and some paid hands, although the ease of sail control and trim makes her perfectly viable for sailing solo or two-up.
There’s no reason that you couldn’t take the 495 up Britain’s rivers and estuaries, with her 2.28m draught and option for a 1.83m shoal keel.
But a boat of this capability demands to cover miles.
Sail round Britain , up to Svalbard , round the Mediterranean or around the world – the boat could undoubtedly handle it all with aplomb – but make sure you’re stretching her legs.
Solid, well-built and beautifully finished
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Take a tour below decks on the Oyster 745. This 75 foot yacht offers huge scope for customisation, allowing you to add your personal touch to almost every aspect of the interior.
The Oyster 565 60ft Sailboat: beauty + efficiency
Oyster 565 Boat, British Yacht Builders, Blue Water Sailing, Cruising
The Oyster 565 Sub 60ft Sailboat
19 Mar 2019
Oyster’s Sub 60ft Sailboat Is A Design Force To Be Reckoned With
For those unfamiliar with sailing yachts, renowned British boat builder Oyster Yachts’ new 565 model may not seem like anything out of the ordinary. Yes, it is a stunning boat, but aren’t all sailing yachts? However, with good looks and so much more to offer, trust us when we say this sub 60ft sailboat is a force to be reckoned with.
Oyster Yachts is well-known in the yachting industry for its beautiful, hand-crafted sailboats, but we think their new sailing yacht model – one of six in the shipbuilder’s latest ‘G6’ range might just be its best one yet. Discover why below…
What’s the story behind this sub 60ft sailboat?
With the first hull set to launch in spring this year, Oyster’s new sailing yacht model is designed for couples and families to sail without a professional crew – a style of sailing referred to as ‘shorthanded’ by those in the know. Hence, it was of the utmost importance that she was easy to sail. Like all Oyster luxury sailing yachts , the 565 also had to be suitable for any type of sailing: from leisurely weekend sailing in the Mediterranean, to faster paced regatta sailing, and even circumnavigating the globe.
Though the first is not yet completed, the exceptional design qualities of the 565 haven’t gone unnoticed. In 2017, the Oyster 565 was crowned the Best Luxury Cruiser at the Sailing Today Awards, where judges acknowledged her lavish interiors, versatility, and suitability for shorthanded family sailing.
Stepping inside Oyster’s new sailing yacht
The Oyster interior style is luxurious and contemporary with an impressive amount of onboard living space, and this is something that the shipbuilder has stepped up even further with its ‘G6’ range. The 565 benefits from the distinctive large windows which have become Oyster’s signature look, with triple Seascape windows in the saloon and master cabin infusing the interior spaces with natural light. In addition, Skyscape windows in the Master and VIP cabins provide incredible views of the sky day and night, meaning even when you’re tucked up in bed you can still look up at the stars and dream of wherever you’re heading next.
As you would expect with a new Oyster sailing yacht, the interior decor is premium quality and hand-crafted from the finest materials. The main saloon and cabins exude sophistication with their combination of American white oak joinery and crown cut walnut-veneered cabin soles. However, if those materials are not to your taste the surfaces and upholstery can all be modified to suit the owner’s exact taste and wishes. In fact, there is a broad selection of joinery, fabrics and even leathers available for specification on this yacht, making the Oyster 565 a luxurious blank canvas for a yacht owner with a discerning eye and impeccable taste.
What’s more, the sub 60ft sailboat model is not just contemporary in look, the onboard technology is akin to that you would find in a 5-star apartment or luxury suite. State-of-the-art AV equipment, Apple connectivity and twin loudspeakers in the deck saloon makes her a wonderful yacht for both entertaining and relaxation. Raymarine technology designed to augment a captain’s boat handling skills is also available in the bridge.
The Oyster 565 – where beauty meets efficiency
The semi-custom 565 builds on its predecessors’ (the Oyster 56 and Oyster 575) strengths as a circumnavigation vessel. Her twin-rudder hull form provides a well-balanced steering system while facilitating two different layout and keel options. A high-performance sail plan comes as standard, while a ‘sports pack’ makes participating in sailing events like the Oyster Regattas an enticing proposition for those who love competitive sailing. This new sailing yacht model can also offer more space on deck through its extended transom deck plan.
Oyster Yachts’ in-house team was responsible for the deck design and interior layout of the Oyster 565 , and they have provided two standard options for the owner to choose between. The first is the traditional layout, with the Master Cabin aft, two guest cabins forward and a fourth cabin amidship, which can be set out as a utility space or lengthened to include an additional berth. Moving the Master Cabin forward in the bow is a break from tradition and an innovative first for this Oyster yacht, and this is layout two for the 565. In this format, the aft can remain as another large cabin or can be changed to two double cabins for hosting more guests.
A sub 60ft sailboat with a lot to offer
This new sailing yacht model and its impressive features are the result of years of experience building 120 Oyster 56 and the Oyster 575 hulls, and this expertise can be seen in every aspect of its design. This sub 60ft sailboat offers an owner-centric, customisable experience, with everything from her different sail and rig combinations to her bespoke configurations and furnishings making this luxurious yacht a great choice for couples and families; both casual cruisers and competitive sailors will find a lot of potential in her efficient hull shape and deck. That’s why, in our opinion, the Oyster 565 promises to be one of the finest semi-custom sub 60 ft sailboats of 2019.
Location: Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
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Iconic hand-crafted sailing yachts designed by sailors, for sailors: luxury boats built for quality blue water and ocean cruising.
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Oyster is a thoroughbred British luxury sailing yacht builder. We have designed, built and supported the world's finest liveaboard sailboats since 1973. Our sailing yachts are a platform to adventure on which lifelong memories are made. This is why, on an Oyster sail yacht, the possibilities are limitless, the destination anywhere.